Background
Over 4 million men, women and children have been killed in the war. As an integral part of the killing sprees, warring factions have brutally raped hundreds of thousands of women and girls as part of the ethnic cleansing campaign. The rapes are aimed to eliminate all record of the defeated tribe. The rapes victims receive little support from their families and community members and are turned into outcasts thus suffer twice: once by being raped and then, by being shunned by their tribes.
In May 2007, Latet organization in cooperation with journalist Itay Engel who documented the situation in East Congo, and Brit Olam, WUJS and the National Students Association, held a benefit rock concert to raise funds to send a mission of doctors and specialists to Congo.
In July 2007, an assessment mission consisting of Latet and the abovementioned organizations' representatives with the help of Aya Schneerson who runs the UN World Food Program office in the area traveled to Congo. The mission's goals were to locate a local organization to partner with, and to examine the options of sending volunteers and aid.
The mission recommended to partner with Maltheser International – an experienced, reputable humanitarian organization which has the ability, access, the information and the infrastructure that enable it to work effectively and efficiently in the area.
Project's goals
· Provide immediate, psychological, medical and rehabilitation assistance to the rape victims.
· Train local professionals to treat the women and girls.
Project Description
Aid with medical treatment, diagnosis and rehabilitation: A team of OBGYN specialists will be dispatched to Congo. The team will provide medical treatment to the victims, diagnose them and train local doctors and nurses in treatment and rehabilitation issues, medications and all other issues related to the special needs the victims.
Psychological aid
In addition to the physical and emotional damage the rape victims suffer, most of them suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet, the availability of relevant treatment is very limited as most local professionals lack the appropriate training and in many cases are victims of sexual crimes themselves.
A team of post-trauma specialists and psychologists will be sent to Congo after a thorough research of the local norms and culture. In Congo the team will train teams of local therapists and will jointly construct a treatment plan for the victims.
Latet for Passover 2010
